Real estate lawyer to represent buyer

Yes, I can prepare a contract and help you through the process for a lot less than a broker would charge the seller for a commission. If there were a broker, he or she would prepare all the paperwork, and the sellers would pay the entire commission. Customarily, if the buyers hire and attorney, they pay their attorneys' fees themselves. Since you are probably saving the sellers $50,000 or more in brokers' commissions, maybe the sellers can be persuaded to reimburse you for attorneys fees at the close of escrow, maybe with a cap of $5000.00 or $10,000.00. I can probably write the contract for $1500.00 or less. Then there may be changes by the sellers, reviewing the Transfer Disclosure statement, the Hazards Disclosure report, the title report, the termite report, and any other disclosures, and advising you on the meaning and consequences of the information and what do do about it. You might also need a little help dealing with your lender and issues arising at the close of escrow. Brokers usually handle all of this for sellers and buyers, but if neither side is paying a commission, I'll be less expensive. If you appreciate this free advice, please remember to refer me to any friends or acquaintances who need a lawyer. Referrals are still our best source of new business. Do you have a revocable living trust to protect your heirs against probate? Probate takes forever, is expensive, and is annoying. Do your family a favor. Set up a trust, and put all your property, especially any real property, into the trust. Since it is revocable, you can change it, add to it, take property out of it, or even cancel it completely, at any time. We set up such trusts, provide a pour-over will as a back-up for any property that does not make it into the trust, provide you with blank durable powers of attorney for health care and financial decisions, in case you become incapable of making such decisions while still alive, and convey one piece of real property to the trust, usually the family home, for $1500.00. If you would like to hire me to do this, let me know, and I'll send you a list of the information I need. Dana Sack